Meditation for the 1st August 2024
Author Jack Kornfield* tells the story of a person in a great deal of pain with stomach cancer who asked if meditation could help. With assistance from a friend he began to meditate primarily by turning his attention towards the physical sensations of his illness. It was too much for him so a friend put his hand on the man’s stomach and asked, how’s that? He replied that it hurt too much so they tried a few other things including the friend standing a metre away from the man’s body. The patient found this relaxing telling his friend it was lovely. His friend would quietly say the words, ‘Rest in love, rest in love’ and from that day onwards the patient , whenever he felt pain would push his morphine pump and just repeat to himself, “Rest in love, rest in love.”
Kornfield concludes that whether we have physical or emotional pain, anything we give space to can be transformed. Widen the space, he says, remember vastness, allow ease and perspective this is the doorway to freedom.
In meditation we allow ourselves to be transformed by being in the present moment. For the patient the meditation mantra, “Rest in love, rest in love” together with the loving companionship of his friend was giving him relief.
My own experience with illness upholds this story. Of course we don’t have to be physically ill to know that these small ways of meditation can be so useful in helping us through difficult times.
Meditation
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For a complete range of the programs offered by the Carmelite Centre go to www.thecarmelitecentremelbourne.org
*The above is loosely based on a story found in “No Time Like the Present” by Jack Kornfield,
Penguin Random House 2017